Tomic reaches dizzy heights

''IT'S about time, ah?'' And with those words, Bernard Tomic summed up the thoughts of a nation.

The 20-year-old overcame bouts of dizziness and blurred vision in his Sydney International semi-final to progress through to his first ATP tour final.

Not since Roger Federer in 2002 has a 20-year-old taken out the title in Sydney.

But having continued his giant-killing summer streak with a 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 win against No. 3 seed Andreas Seppi on Friday night, the only thing standing between Tomic and the right to join illustrious company is big-serving South African Kevin Anderson.

Tomic was heard during the match saying ''I can't see'' and ''I feel dizzy'', and had to take tablets and put on a hat after the first set to reduce the effects of a sweltering afternoon in Sydney's west.

The on-court temperature was hovering close to 40 degrees for most of the match, but Tomic pushed past the pain barrier to become the first Australian since Chris Guccione in 2008 to reach the final of the event.

''It was extremely hot and the heat hit me unexpectedly,'' he said. ''It was very difficult to play that first set,'' Tomic said.

''There were a lot of tough points and I had to call a trainer. Hopefully tomorrow isn't going to be as hot.''

Having reached the final, Tomic has guaranteed himself a return to the top 50 once the rankings are sorted after the tournament.

If he loses the final, he's likely to begin his Australian Open campaign at No. 49 - the ranking of Australia's highest-rated player, Marinko Matosevic - but a win could lift him as high as No. 43.

The youngest player to win the Sydney International is Lleyton Hewitt, who won the tournament as an 18-year-old.

But Anderson, the world No. 36 who has started the year with a seven-game winning streak, isn't going down without a fight.

''It's not [going to be] an easy final,'' Tomic said. ''He serves really well so it's going to be difficult. Obviously I serve well too, so it's going to be about who returns better and who takes their opportunities. I have to get ready for that match tomorrow and do my best to win.''

Tomic, No. 64 before the tournament, has upset a host of big names in his Australian Open preparations.

The Queenslander admitted his golden summer on home soil was the perfect preparation for the first grand slam event in Melbourne, which he begins against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer on Tuesday. ''I can't ask for anything better for me coming here,'' Tomic said.